Churchill Downs Picks: Grade 3 Maxfield Stakes (6/28/2026)
Written by: Chris Adams
Published: Sun Jun 28, 2026, 7:00 am ET
Read Time: 8 minutes
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The racing action from Churchill Downs on Sunday features the Maxfield Stakes. @HandicappingT3 has all the Churchill Downs picks for the entire card!
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Churchill Downs Full Card Analysis
Churchill Downs Picks: Grade 3 Maxfield Stakes (6/28/2026)
Churchill Downs Picks – Race 1
Post Time: 12:45 PM ET; Claiming $86k; 1 1/16 M Dirt; Field of 8 runners.
- #1 SECRET CHAT (12-1): Top Pick. Proven competitor at this configuration.
- #5 LIGHT THE WAY (10-1): Major Player. Running well of late.
- #6 ALTERNATE REALITY (5-2): Major Player. Has experience at this level. Top connections on the circuit with Ortiz and Sharp.
- #4 HOUSE UNITED (4-1): Contender. Ran at this level last out. Expect this one to be able to carry the distance.
Selections: 1 – 5 – 6 – 4
The Plays
Win: #1 at 5-1
Exacta: 1 / 5,6,4
Churchill Downs Picks – Race 2
Post Time: 1:15 PM ET; Allowance Optional Claiming $134k; 6 1/2 F Dirt; Field of 9 runners.
- #7 BLUE FIRE (3-1): Top Pick. Barn has been solid. Races competitive with the top contenders.
- #8 TALIESIN (9-2): Major Player. Speed figures match this group well. Likely to get forward position.
- #1 SASSY PRINCESS (6-1): Contender. Previous success in similar race types. May be able to find the right setup.
- #9 CERVARO DELLA SALA (10-1): Contender. Competitive enough in recent efforts. Likely to win the battle if challenged in the stretch.
Selections: 7 – 8 – 1 – 9
The Plays
Win: #7 at 5-2
Exacta: 7 / 8,1,9
Churchill Downs Picks – Race 3
Post Time: 1:44 PM ET; Maiden Special Weight $120k; 6 F Dirt; Field of 16 runners.
- #4 CRUISING AGAIN (7-2): Prime Win Player. Favorable class relief in this spot. Proven competitor at this configuration.
- #16 HORMESIS (6-1): Contender. Looks to get a bit easier group here. Demonstrated success under similar conditions.
- #7 LUXOR MAGIC (12-1): Contender. Should sit a good trip.
- #5 EZ MISS SASSY (9-2): Contender. Speed figs are a bit slow, but not completely hopeless against the top of the field. Ortiz and Casse team up on this one.
Selections: 4 – 16 – 7 – 5
The Plays
Win: #4 at 3-1
Exacta: 4 / 16,7,5
Churchill Downs Picks – Race 4
Post Time: 2:15 PM ET; Maiden Special Weight $120k; 5 F Turf; Field of 16 runners.
- #15 DISMISS (6-1): Longshot Play of the Day. Could be ready for a top effort. Proven competitor at this configuration. Bet today's live longshot on MyBookie.
- #8 THUNDER APPEAL (4-1): Major Player. Demonstrated success under similar conditions.
- #5 RED SQUARE (3-1): Contender. Previous success in similar race types. Barn has been sending out runners.
- #9 GHOST PROTOCOL (12-1): Contender. Race conditions fit this one well.
Selections: 15 – 8 – 5 – 9
The Plays
Win: #15 at 5-1
Trifecta: 15 / 8,5 / 8,5,9
Churchill Downs Picks – Race 5
Post Time: 2:47 PM ET; Allowance Optional Claiming $141k; 1 1/16 M Dirt; Field of 8 runners.
- #2 CHUNK OF GOLD (8-5): Top Pick. Comes in with solid form. Barn has been solid.
- #6 PUBLISHER (5-1): Major Player. Trainer is having a great meet. Good race flow for this runner.
- #7 ADMIRAL DENNIS (8-1): Major Player. Hard to argue with the recent races. Should find today's group a bit softer than the last race.
- #5 GOULD'S GOLD (3-1): Major Player. Race conditions fit this one well.
Selections: 2 – 6 – 7 – 5
The Plays
Win: #2 at 6-5
Exacta: 2 / 6,7,5
Churchill Downs Picks – Race 6
Post Time: 3:19 PM ET; Allowance Optional Claiming $141k; 5 1/2 F Turf; Field of 9 runners.
- #2 MAE TOWN (3-1): Top Pick. Comes in with solid form. Race sets up perfectly.
- #4 BIG TROUBLE (8-1): Major Player. Demonstrated success under similar conditions. Gaffalione and Foley team up on this one.
- #6 ME GOVERNOR (10-1): Major Player. Ortiz puts this one in with a chance. This one's a fighter in the late stages.
- #7 SATIN BLUE (9-2): Major Player. Race shape gives this one an edge. Trainer's horses have been running.
Selections: 2 – 4 – 6 – 7
The Plays
Win: #2 at 5-2
Exacta: 2 / 4,6,7
Churchill Downs Picks – Race 7
Post Time: 3:53 PM ET; Debutante Stakes $225k; 6 F Dirt; Field of 9 runners.
- #6 LACK OF RIESLING (5-2): Top Pick. Proven competitor at this configuration.
- #2 PIERETTE (3-1): Major Player. Running well of late. Demonstrated success under similar conditions.
- #5 VALKYRIE (10-1): Major Player. Has been running well enough recently. Previous success in similar race types.
- #9 LIBERTY RINGS (12-1): Major Player. Race conditions fit this one well. Could be grinding down the competition late.
Selections: 6 – 2 – 5 – 9
The Plays
Win: #6 at 2-1
Pick 3 (Races 7-9): #6,2 with #8,4 with #4
Exacta: 6 / 2,5,9
Churchill Downs Picks – Race 8
Post Time: 4:25 PM ET; Bashford Manor Stakes $225k; 6 F Dirt; Field of 9 runners.
- #8 HEY TUFF GUY (9-5): Top Pick. Favorable class relief in this spot. Race may setup for this runner.
- #4 SARGENT BILKO (6-1): Major Player. Looks to get a bit easier group here. Trainer is having a great meet.
- #5 CAPTAIN LUKE (5-1): Major Player. Potential to have this pace fall just right. Barn has been sending out runners.
- #7 HE IS NO LIE (3-1): Contender. May be a better effort in the 2nd start. Shouldn't be disadvantaged by the flow of the race.
Selections: 8 – 4 – 5 – 7
The Plays
Win: #8 at 7-5
Exacta: 8 / 4,5
Churchill Downs Picks – Race 9
Post Time: 4:56 PM ET; Maxfield Stakes $250k; 7 F Dirt; Field of 8 runners.
- #4 BRANT (3-1): Best Bet of the Card. Looks good based on the 102 speed rating which is among the top in the group. Barn has been solid. Bet today's best bet with industry-leading rebates on BetOnline.
- #7 DEEP FLAME (9-5): Major Player. Trainer is having a great meet. Expected to maintain its energy reserves into the final stretch.
- #6 PRIZE PICK (6-1): Major Player. Potential to have this pace fall just right. Barn has been sending out runners.
- #1 IGNITER (12-1): Major Player. Can compete from a speed figure standpoint. Expect this one to be able to carry the distance.
Selections: 4 – 7 – 6 – 1
The Plays
Win: #4 at 1-1
Exacta: 4 / 7,6,1
Churchill Downs Picks – Race 10
Post Time: 5:28 PM ET; Hanshin Stakes Presented by JRA $300k; 1 M Dirt; Field of 10 runners.
- #8 NU WHAT'S NEW (10-1): Top Pick. Looks good based on the 107 speed rating which is among the top in the group. Fits well with this group.
- #4 IMAGINATION (6-1): Major Player. May be able to take advantage of the pace. Prat puts this one in with a chance.
- #10 TOUR PLAYER (9-2): Major Player. This one's a fighter in the late stages. Previous success in similar race types.
- #5 DRAGOON GUARD (4-1): Major Player. Could be grinding down the competition late. Speed figs are a bit slow, but not completely hopeless against the top of the field.
Selections: 8 – 4 – 10 – 5
The Plays
Win: #8 at 5-1
Exacta: 8 / 4,10,5
Churchill Downs Picks – Race 11
Post Time: 5:59 PM ET; Maiden Special Weight $120k; 6 1/2 F Dirt; Field of 14 runners.
- #2 MOONA LISA (5-2): Prime Win Player. Barn has been solid. Love the heart this one shows in a fight.
- #6 ZENGRAYA (8-1): Fringe Contender. Looks fast enough off previous efforts. Potentially cycling to a top performance.
- #10 AUDRA (3-1): Fringe Contender. Should step forward from the first start. Should sit a good trip.
- #1 LEXI V. (15-1): Underneath. Trainer's horses have been running. Speed figs are a bit slow, but not completely hopeless against the top of the field.
Selections: 2 – 6 – 10 – 1
The Plays
Win: #2 at 2-1
Exacta: 2 / 6,10,1
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Chris first got introduced to horse racing in 2009 at Canterbury Park (Shakopee, MN). Along with handicapping and betting, Chris has worked as a teller at his local track and participated in ownership partnerships. He now enjoys sharing his passion with his wife and two young daughters who love going out to the track each and every summer.
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